After Mr.
Hugo’s explanation, everyone finally learned the full story of what had happened.
Apple Village was an ordinary settlement on the southern edge of the main island of the Land of Water, near the mainland of the Land of Fire.
Although it was situated by the sea, the terrain was unsuitable for building a harbor, and the complicated terrain around the village also made overland travel difficult.
This difficult terrain had left the village economically underdeveloped.
However, thanks to the same isolation, the small Apple Village had never been visited by the pirates who ran rampant around the Land of Water.
That changed more than ten days ago, when some fishermen from the village discovered a merchant ship that had run aground after striking a reef.
Out of goodwill, the villagers went to great lengths to rescue the ship.
Fortunately, none of the people aboard had been seriously injured.
The merchant ship subsequently stayed in Apple Village for several days while it was repaired, and the villagers learned that the merchants were weapons dealers from the Land of Craftsmen.
However, when the villagers asked where in the Land of Water the merchants were headed to conduct their business, the merchants became evasive and kept changing the subject.
The villagers assumed they simply wanted to protect their trade secrets, so they did not press the matter.
Eventually, with the villagers’ help, the merchant ship was repaired, and the merchants took their leave.
Before departing, they left behind some money and several weapons as thanks for the villagers’ assistance.
However, because ordinary villages like this one were not accurately marked on maps and the villagers themselves had little knowledge of the surrounding geography, the merchants had carefully questioned the local fishermen about the nearby waters before leaving.
“The merchant specifically asked us about the islands to the east.
He even described the features of one particular island.
Only one elderly fisherman in our village said he had seen that island from a distance.” At this point, Hugo placed particular emphasis on what happened next.
“Later, the village chief said that the nearest port from the Land of Rivers to the Land of Water was clearly west of our village.
It was precisely because that port existed that hardly anyone ever came here.” “So when that merchant ship left, it headed toward that small island to the east, right?” Hearing this, Tachibana Kenji appropriately offered her deduction.
“Yes.
The village chief said at the time that the merchant probably wasn’t involved in any legitimate business.” Hugo agreed with Tachibana’s assessment.
“Then, only a few days after the merchant left, the pirates attacked our village.
The only people who survived were those who had gone out to sea fishing and hadn’t returned yet, along with some elderly people, women, and children who managed to hide in the mountains.” By this point, Hugo’s eyes were already glistening with tears.
“Our village didn’t have anything valuable at all, but those pirates didn’t just rob us.
They took our children, too.
My daughter was among those they kidnapped.” “It must have been that merchant who made a deal with the pirates and sold them the location of our village.
The villagers who survived said that the weapons those pirates carried were exactly the same as those aboard the merchant ship!” “Maybe that merchant ship was simply unlucky and happened to be attacked by pirates?” Although Zabuza could see that Hugo was becoming increasingly emotional, he still asked the question bluntly.
Tachibana Kenji thought for a moment before responding.
“That probably isn’t the case.
First, that merchant clearly had a specific destination in mind: an isolated island offshore.
And if the ship had merely been attacked by pirates, the pirates wouldn’t normally have any reason to specifically mention an impoverished, remote village with nothing of value.
Especially one that had helped the merchant.” Tachibana stroked her chin, becoming increasingly convinced that the merchant ship Hugo had described had gone to the island to conduct some sort of deal with the pirates.
“Yes.
That’s what everyone in the village believes, too.” “If that’s the case, then let’s get going.
Having a destination is much better than searching the open sea without a clue.” Once the available information had been gathered, Mei Terumi immediately decided that they should depart as soon as possible.
However, Tachibana Kenji asked Hugo one more question.
“Can the people in your village still find the location of that island?” “No problem.
Most of our fishermen and fishing boats are still here.
Although none of us has actually been to the island, we know its approximate location, so finding it won’t be difficult.” In the end, everyone decided not to bring Hugo and instead head directly to Apple Village.
After all, this wasn’t an escort mission.
Hugo had already said that there were other people in the village who could guide them.
A rescue mission required speed, and bringing along an ordinary civilian would only slow them down considerably.
Ao, meanwhile, had remained silent from beginning to end, quietly watching his students make their preparations before the mission.
…
A day later, Ao’s squad finally reached Apple Village after traveling day and night.
The buildings in the village were still mostly intact, but clear signs of recent repairs could be seen everywhere.
There were even traces of blood that had not yet been completely washed from the streets.
There were almost no people walking through the village.
The one or two pedestrians in plain clothes who could be seen looked numb and wary as they glanced at the group.
Just looking at the dilapidated village was enough to imagine the devastation this isolated settlement had suffered.
Since they had already traveled through the night to get here, however, there was no point in wasting any more time.
Mei Terumi gave Tachibana Kenji a meaningful look.
Tachibana understood immediately.
She stepped forward and stopped a middle-aged man.
“We’re shinobi from Kirigakure who accepted a mission to rescue the kidnapped children.
Could you tell us where the village chief’s house is?” Upon hearing this, a faint glimmer appeared in the numb man’s eyes before quickly giving way to sorrow once again.
“The village chief was killed by the pirates.
His son, Dazi, is in charge now.
I’ll take you to him.” With that, the man turned around and began leading them.
The group soon arrived at a relatively clean courtyard.
Before they could even say anything, a sturdy young man wearing a conical straw hat stepped out of the stone house.
The young man paused when he saw so many unfamiliar people standing in the courtyard.
But the moment he noticed the Kirigakure insignia on their clothing, he immediately understood.
“Are you the shinobi whom Hugo hired?” Given the culture of the Land of Water, no one would underestimate a shinobi simply because of their age.
And with Ao, an adult wearing a jōnin flak jacket, standing among them, there was even less reason to doubt them.
This saved Tachibana Kenji and the other two youngsters a great deal of explanation.
After briefly introducing themselves and explaining the purpose of their visit, everyone’s attention turned toward the young “acting village chief.” “Then allow me to take you to the island.” The young man named Dazi looked at them with a resolute expression.
The middle-aged man who had guided Ao’s squad here seemed to want to say something upon hearing this, but in the end, he merely sighed softly and remained silent.
Perhaps afraid that the Shinobi-sama might misunderstand, Dazi added an explanation.
“I’m the best fisherman in our village, and I’m very familiar with the surrounding waters.
I can take you there by myself.” Mei Terumi nodded.
“No problem.
You only need to take us to the island.
Once we land, you can return immediately.
After we complete the mission, we’ll bring the kidnapped children back to the village.” Mei seemed particularly reasonable today.
Even her usual tsundere attitude was nowhere to be seen as she spoke.
Seeing the concern on the faces of the two civilians, Tachibana Kenji also reassured them.
“Don’t worry.
We’re shinobi.
Dealing with pirates who are nothing more than ordinary people won’t be a problem for us.” Dazi then exchanged a few simple words with the middle-aged man before leading the four of them out of the courtyard.
Thus, without attracting much attention from the other villagers, the group headed straight to a stretch of shoreline where several fishing boats were moored.
Presumably because no one in the village had been in the mood to go fishing recently, the boats had simply been left scattered haphazardly along the shore.
Since they were heading out on a rescue mission and Dazi would be returning ahead of them, the group helped move and connect an empty boat as well.
However, after getting a close look at the fishing boats, Tachibana Kenji couldn’t help complaining internally.
These wooden fishing boats actually have engines and propellers.
Good thing nobody suggested chasing the pirates out at sea.
Don’t tell me the pirates’ ships are already ironclads?
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